If you are looking to combat the heat at city pools-good news as the parks department announced a billion dollars going to the Let’sSwimNYC initiative. © KAILA JONES /TCPALM / USA TODAY NETWORK
(New York, NY) – New York City is committing one billion dollars to renovate city pools to keep New Yorkers cool this summer. The Astoria Pool, which is the city’s largest, holds one million gallons of water at 330 feet long, and it’s almost ready for swimmers after it was closed for nearly 2 years. The city said it was earmarking funds to re-do 39 other pools. However, parks are dealing with another issue: the shortage of lifeguards.
Staffing numbers peaked in 2016 with over 1500 lifeguards, then last year, the city recruited just over half that number with 825 guards. The city is hoping to recruit around 900 lifeguards this year. They have even boosted pay up from $19/hour to $22/hour to entice workers. Either way, city pools are set to officially open on June 27th.
